JOIN USThe Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) is set to procure 150 mini buses, to use them as feeder buses for Big Trunk buses running on the main corridors in the City.
This is being done to provide better transport facilities to citizens residing on the outskirts of the City. The feeder buses will ply on roads connecting the main road. An amount of Rs 30 crore is being spent on the purchase of these mini buses, say BMTC officials.
The Big Trunk bus services are being run on Bannerghatta Road, Kanakapura Road, Mysore Road, Tumkur Road, Kolar Road, Sarjapur Road, Marathahalli, Magadi Road, Chikkaballapur Road, Old Airport Road, Electronics City and Hosur Road. Presently, people residing in suburban areas have to either walk or take private transport before they reach the main roads from where they can catch a Big Trunk bus.
A survey is being conducted to determine the number of bus stops to be set up and to synchronise the timings of feeder services and Big Trunk buses.
Speaking to Deccan Herald, Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy said: “Apart from making it easy for commuters on the outskirts, these buses will encourage citizens to use public transport. Once the service begins, we can identify many other routes to which it can be extended.”
A BMTC official said that the process to procure buses was underway and the feeder services would begin on Kanakapura Road, Bannerghatta Road and Electronics City.
The Big Bus Network consists of four types of services - Big Trunk (high frequency services along the 12 major arterial roads in Bangalore); Big Circle (high frequency circular services on the Outer Ring Road); Big City (high frequency routes serving high demand, high density corridors in the city centre) and Big Connect (high frequency connectivity between arterial roads beyond ORR). The mini buses will essentially be in the Big Connect category of buses.